2015年CRI Highlights of Environmental Science Stories from 2015

 

Sitting on top of the Quelccava Ica Cap in the Andes, a satellite-linked weather station has been helping¹ scientists to understand the El Nino effect.

The station was developed by the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

The El Nino effect is the warming of the central Pacific. Expected to peak by the end of 2016, the phenomenon affects the global climate.

Established in 2003, the weather station has been documenting the impact of El Nino on the ice cap. It measures air temperature and humidity, incoming solar radiation, infrared² radiation, wind speed and wind direction, precipitation and barometric³ pressure.

Senior Research Fellow at University of Massachusetts Douglas Hardy⁴ says the station offers scientists a special vantage point in studying the environment.

"Here we can make continuous measurements at that same elevation⁵ halfway⁶ through the atmosphere."

Meanwhile, in the UK, scientists have been looking under the earth's surface for new sources of fuel.

The British government recently issued nearly 160 fracking licenses⁷, creating friction⁸ between environmentalists and those who support expanded energy sources.

Fracking is the process of injecting water at extremely high pressure into underground rocks so that gas and oil can be extracted.

The process has the potential to contaminate water sources.

A software named PUNNETT GEO, developed by civil engineers at Nottingham University can now detect the safety level of land before fracking, so that water sources can be protected.

It uses information from recently launched satellites carrying new technology.

Before the software was available, satellite data could only be used in urban areas where solid structures are used as measuring tools.

Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University, Andrew Sowter says the software is revolutionary.

"This technology that we've developed gives an unprecedented⁹ view of land motion."

Moving on to London, and perhaps surprising for many, car experts are still recommending petrol as the best option for the moment, to fuel our vehicles.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen was found to have cheated in emissions¹⁰ testing for its diesel¹¹ cars. Despite the scandal, Auto¹² Car magazine, which conducts its own emissions tests on new cars, still thinks petrol works for most. Here's Editor Jim Holder¹³.

"I would say stick with petrol, or diesel for the time being because for most people that will be the best solution."

The recently concluded Paris conference set out ambitious environmental goals. The historic event demonstrated the global community's commitment in tackling climate change, giving people hope for a better future.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 infrared   

adj./n.红外线(的)

参考例句：

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

3 barometric   

大气压力

参考例句：

• Electricity compensates for barometric pressure as well as system pressure variations. 用电补偿大气压和系统压力的变化。
• A barometric altimeter indicates height above sea level or some other selected elevation. 气压高度表用以指示海平面或另外某个被选定高度以上的高度。

4 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

5 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

6 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

7 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

8 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

9 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

10 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

11 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

12 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

13 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。